“It was going to cost over half a million dollars to go with [a big-name provider]—and that wasn’t even for everything I needed. 3AM provided the same functionality and more for less than half the cost.”
Background:
Weatherford Regional Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital in Custer County, Oklahoma. Serving a town of approximately 12,000 people, the hospital operates at a high capacity with full OB and oncology departments, alongside robust lab and imaging services. To maintain top-tier patient care, the hospital needed a reliable and efficient medication management system.
The Challenge:
Weatherford Regional’s existing medication management system was outdated, prone to failures, and approaching obsolescence. Recognizing the need for an upgrade, the Director of Pharmacy, Jeremy Garrett, DPh, and the Chief Nursing Officer urged leadership to transition to a modern system that would improve efficiency, enhance patient safety, and provide better oversight of narcotics management. Beyond the system’s technical shortcomings, hospital administrators needed to balance operational enhancements with fiscal responsibility, ensuring that any investment aligned with the financial realities of a rural healthcare facility.
The Solution: ServeRx® by 3AM Technologies
While evaluating automated dispensing systems, Garrett considered multiple vendors, including a well-known industry leader. However, a timely conversation with 3AM Technologies introduced him to ServeRx®, 3AM’s advanced medication management solution. Despite 3AM’s smaller company profile, Garrett found their expertise, responsiveness, and personalized service unmatched. “I could tell that the owners loved their company. It’s a small company, but they knew their stuff. They weren’t just executives—they understood my challenges firsthand,” said Garret. Comparing cost and functionality, ServeRx® offered all the necessary features at less than half the cost of the big-name provider. For Garrett, the decision was clear. He said, “It was going to cost over half a million dollars to go with [a big-name provider]—and that wasn’t even for everything I needed. 3AM provided the same functionality and more for less than half the cost.”
Implementation & Results:
In mid-2021, 3AM Technologies implemented ServeRx® across Weatherford Regional Hospital, streamlining medication management with enhanced cart fill processes, narcotics oversight, and improved medication traceability. Shortly after implementation, the hospital faced an additional challenge: a transition to a new electronic health records (EHR) system. 3AM’s highly responsive support team provided a seamless integration between ServeRx® and the EHR, ensuring that this transition did not disrupt hospital operations. “It was actually better working directly with 3AM’s support team because we figured things out and moved forward quickly. Bigger companies take forever to get things done, but with 3AM, they just handle it,” said Garrett. Additionally, ServeRx® significantly improved inventory control. Despite expanding hospital services, including adding chemotherapy and infusion services, Garrett noted that total pharmacy inventory costs remained stable, demonstrating the system’s efficiency in reducing waste and optimizing supply levels. He said, “Five years ago, my budget for every two weeks covered 80 hours of pharmacist time and 80 hours of technician time. Even though we’ve added departments and services, that budget hasn’t changed. ServeRx® has played a big role in maintaining costs while expanding our capabilities.” Beyond cost savings, ServeRx® enhanced patient safety and compliance by improving medication traceability and helping detect drug diversion incidents. The hospital leveraged reporting features to identify anomalies in controlled substance usage, preventing potential diversion and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Weatherford Regional Hospital’s experience with ServeRx® underscores the importance of choosing a partner, not just a provider.
Key Takeaways:
- Cost-Effective Solution: ServeRx® provided better functionality than competitors at less than half the cost.
- Improved Efficiency: Automated dispensing reduced after-hours pharmacy entries, freeing up nursing staff for patient care.
- Enhanced Safety & Compliance: Robust tracking reduced medication errors, streamlined narcotics management, and helped detect drug diversion.
- Inventory Stability Amid Expansion: Despite adding new departments, total pharmacy inventory costs remained stable, demonstrating ServeRx’s efficiency in inventory control and waste reduction.
- Seamless EHR Integration & Support: 3AM Technologies provided responsive, hands-on support, ensuring smooth integration with the hospital’s evolving technology needs.